Cleese voices support for Shrek

Monday 24 June 2002 23:00 BST

Comic actor John Cleese will lend his voice to the sequel of hit animated film Shrek, it was reported today.

The British star joins Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow on the film playing the father to Diaz's character, Fiona, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The original director Andrew Adamson will make the sequel which is expected to be released in 2004.

The first Shrek movie, based on a book by William Steig, was released in May 2001 and has taken nearly £200 million at the American box office.

Cleese has used his voice in various films during his career including An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, The Swan Princess and George of the Jungle.

The 62-year-old actor next stars as R in the new James Bond movie Die Another Day and as Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington in the second Harry Potter film Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.